Let’s face it – getting a grip on music publishing explained can seem about as easy as deciphering ancient hieroglyphics. But trust me, it doesn’t have to be this way. Whether you’re a seasoned songwriter or just starting out, understanding music publishing is essential. It protects your creative work and ensures you receive your publishing royalties.

This isn’t about complicated legal jargon. It’s about empowering you, the creator. It’s about providing you with the know-how to navigate the industry confidently. This is your music, and you deserve to reap the rewards of your talent.

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Unpacking Music Publishing: It’s All About Your Rights

Think of a song you’ve written like a house. You’ve got the physical building (the master recording) and the blueprint. This blueprint is the underlying composition of the song, your music publishing rights. It’s about recognizing that as a songwriter or composer, you have ownership over your work. This ownership comes in the form of copyrights.

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Copyright in Music

There are two copyrights attached to every song. One is the master rights, also known as the sound recording. The other is the publishing rights, or the underlying composition.

  1. Sound Recording: This refers to the actual recording of the song. Think of it like taking a photo of a painting. It captures a specific performance of the song. Whoever owns the sound recording, usually the artist or their record label, will receive royalties whenever that specific recording gets played.
  2. Musical Composition: This is where publishing comes in. It’s all about the notes, the melody, and the lyrics. This is the DNA of your song that exists even without a recording. It doesn’t matter who is singing or playing, those core elements belong to the composer and lyricist.

Enter the Music Publisher: Your Partner in Royalties

Now, here’s where music publishers step in. Their job is to make sure songwriters and composers receive the money they’ve earned. They collect royalties from their composition rights whenever their music is used commercially.

Imagine trying to track down every single time your song is used. Plays on the radio, streams online, uses in a YouTube video, or even live performances all earn you money. It would be a logistical nightmare. That’s why most songwriters team up with a publishing company.

Three Types of Music Publishing Deals

music publishing explained

There are generally three main publishing deals. The deal structure largely depends on the experience of the musician and their catalog. They all grant the ability to collect royalties.

1. Full Publishing Deal

With this type of deal, the songwriter signs over all their rights to the publisher. This is in exchange for upfront payments (an advance) and future royalties. This usually involves the songwriter agreeing to write a specified number of songs over a defined period.

2. Co-Publishing Deal

This is more of a partnership. Both songwriter and publisher have shared ownership over the copyright. There is usually an upfront advance in this scenario. They will also split the royalties.

3. Administration Deal

This type of deal offers the most control for artists. They retain 100% ownership of their copyrights. With this deal, they get the publishing company to handle administrative tasks. These tasks include registering songs with collection societies. Another is ensuring accurate royalty collection for a fee.

Music Royalties: The Lowdown on Getting Paid

Royalties are payments made to songwriters and publishers every time their music is used. Here is a breakdown of key types of music royalties you can earn:

Royalty Type How it’s earned
Performance Royalties Earned whenever the song is performed publicly. Think radio airplay, live concerts, and other venues. Joining a performing rights organization, or PRO, will help ensure you receive these royalties.
Mechanical Royalties Mechanical royalties are collected each time the composition is reproduced. This can be either physically or digitally. Streaming and downloads from streaming services such as Spotify generate mechanical royalties. Agencies like The MLC are responsible for accurate payment distribution to artists for mechanical rights.
Synchronization Royalties Generated whenever a composition is synchronized with a visual medium. This can include films, TV shows, commercials, or even video games. This also includes placements in user-generated content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. These are managed through what are called microsync licenses.
Print Royalties These days, you might be looking at sheet music sales here.

Do You Need a Music Publisher?

music publishing explained

While technically you can manage your own publishing when you release music, most songwriters find it beneficial to partner with a publisher. This is especially true as they start building a bigger catalog of music. This is where your understanding of music publishing explained will be very helpful.

A music publisher can:

  • Register your songs with relevant collection societies worldwide.
  • Issue various licenses for the use of your music.
  • Actively seek out opportunities to pitch your songs. This includes placements in film, TV, advertising, and more. These are also known as sync placements.
  • Negotiate better sync licensing rates on your behalf.
  • Provide valuable industry advice and connections.

FAQs about Music Publishing Explained

What are PROs?

PRO stands for Performing Rights Organization. PROs, such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, handle performance rights, not mechanical ones. They collect performance royalties from radio play, public performances, and more, and distribute them to songwriters and publishers. Mechanical licenses and royalties are managed separately.

Can I join any PRO I want?

While numerous PROs are available, typically you’ll choose one and affiliate with it exclusively. This is where you would register your works for performance royalty collection. While you can move your catalog between PROs after a certain period, it’s important to research which best aligns with your musical style and goals.

Conclusion – Music Publishing Explained

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